Google announced a new policy forinactive accountsin 2023, stating that unused accounts would ultimately be deleted.
Googledefinesan inactive account as one that hasn’t been used in two years.
The company reserves the right to delete such accounts entirely, though this only applies to personal accounts.
Work, school, or corporate accounts remain unaffected, even after more than 24 months of inactivity.
All data in an inactive account will be permanently removed from the internet, Google warns.
The company claims that deleting abandoned accounts enhances security, as these accounts are often forgotten or left unattended.
Such accounts can become easy targets for cybercriminals, with their original users potentially unaware of any compromise.
For single-account users, managing the new policy should be straightforward.
Google clarified that an account is considered “active” if it’s being used.
There are also several exceptions to the two-year deletion policy.
Accounts involved in active financial transactions or managing a minor’s account through Family Link are also safe.
